Australia to block former military pilots flying for China

By ROD McGUIRK
Associated Press

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA (AP) — Australia’s defense minister says he has told told the military to review secrecy safeguards in response to concerns that Beijing is recruiting pilots to train the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. Defense Minister Richard Marles ordered the review after asking the Defense Department last month to investigate reports that China had approached former Australian military personnel to become trainers. Marles declined to say whether any Australian had provided such training. He said a joint police-intelligence service task force was investigating “a number of cases.” Britain and Canada also concerns that China is attempting to poach military expertise. Sky News and the BBC reported that about 30 British former military pilots are currently in China training PLA pilots.